Arab States Pay Syrian Rebels

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Updated Apr. 21, 2017 5:08PM ET / Published Apr. 02, 2012 6:01AM ET

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The Syrian rebels will receive their first official international assistance, with Arab states in the Persian Gulf promising to pay fighters a several-million-dollar “salary” to encourage defections from President Bashar al-Assad’s army. Officials at the Friends of Syria conference Sunday said the money would also likely be spent on buying weapons on Syria’s black market. The United States is also lending support, albeit in the form of further humanitarian aid and money for “communications equipment.” Officials from more than 80 nations at the summit expressed frustration with Assad’s repeated failure to make good on his promises to end the violence. “There is no more time for excuses or delay,” said Hillary Clinton. “This is the moment of truth.”